Traveling to Japan has always been a dream of mine, so to finally be able to visit the Land of the Rising Sun was truly unimaginable. We spent several hours planning our trip, ensuring we could squeeze in as many sights as we could see!
The first stop on our long-awaited journey was Osaka.
Our day-trip consisted of visiting the modern yet historical Osaka Castle and Dotonburi.
On the way to the castle, we found our path surrounded by the beautiful greenery Japan had to offer!
For our Osaka day-trip, I wore a simple floral print dress and topped it with a light, cropped denim jacket, decorated in some fun patches. To accent both the dress and the jacket, I wore a pair of dangling rose earrings. I decided to pair comfy white sneakers with the outfit because white sneakers can match almost anything, and we were walking for the majority of our trip.
Denim Jacket: GUESS
Shoes: GUESS - Gelise in white
Patches: GUESS
p.s. I used to work at GUESS, so you'll be seeing a
lot of clothes from there!
Osaka Castle is made up of five stories, with each floor highlighting different parts about the castle's history. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside several parts of the castle, but that allowed us to focus more on sightseeing. I enjoyed seeing the large variety of artifacts and holographic presentations Osaka Castle had to offer about its history. It was a pleasure having the opportunity to learn a little more about Japan's roots. You can learn more about the history of Osaka Castle on their website.
At the top of the castle, you can gaze at the beautiful skyline of the city.
Inside, you can collect flyers of your choice and stamp a brochure with the official Osaka Castle stamps as proof of your visit. They serve as neat souvenirs, and they're free!
Located right outside of the castle, you'll see the Hokoku Shrine, a Shinto Shrine honoring Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who built the original design of Osaka Castle in 1583.
At the shrine, you can pray or make a wish. Click here to learn more about the proper way to pay your respects during a shrine visit.
After a long day at Osaka Castle, we headed to Dotonburi for some food. Osaka is known for their okonomiyaki and takoyaki, and we had to try some! Fortunately, we happened to find a small shop where we could make our own takoyaki!
Making our own takoyaki was interesting. We didn't know that making these bite-sized octopus treats was such a challenge! The hardest part is evenly forming the batter into balls, but we eventually got the hang of it. I can now officially say I'm a takoyaki-making expert! (not really)
You can learn how to make your own takoyaki here.
We actually ended up not spending as much time in Osaka as we
wanted. We were still trying to figure out the train system in Japan and arrived at the castle a little bit later than expected. Trying to squeeze out as much time in Osaka as possible, we ended up barely making the last shinkansen (bullet train) back to Shinjuku, where we were staying. However, because we didn't reserve seats on the train, we didn't have anywhere to sit for the three-hour ride back to Shinjuku.
I know what you're thinking... fun.
Travel Tip: If you are taking the shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan, I highly recommend reserving seats ahead of time!
Osaka is a great destination to visit, offering a culmination of Japan's modern and traditional elements. I loved the greenery and how nature was intertwined in the city as well as the great food we got to try. I was also delighted being able to make takoyaki for the first time, which is an experience I definitely want to try again!
What do you want to see in Osaka?
Let me know in the comments below!
I hope you enjoyed this post, and thank you for reading!
Wishing you a wonderful week,
